obeyed, and in answer to that trust the boy's body straightened
and his very much about changing his ways, that he no longer had
any resentment against Colonel Pendleton, and wanted now to live a
better life. His talk might have fooled Jason but for the fact
that he shrewdly noted the little effect it all had on his mother.
Entering the mouth of the lane, Jason saw Steve going from the
yard gate to the house, and his brows wrinkled angrily--Steve was
staggering. He came to the door and glared at Jason.

"Whut you doin' out hyeh?"

"I'm goin' to see Gray through his troubles," said Jason quietly.

"I kind o' thought you had troubles enough o' yo' own," sneered
the man.

Jason did not answer. His mother was seated within with her back
to the door, and when she turned Jason saw that she had been
weeping, and, catching sight of a red welt on her temple, he
walked over to her.

"How'd that happen, mammy?"

She hesitated and Jason whirled with such fury that his mother
caught him with both arms, and Steve lost no time reaching for his
gun.

"I jammed it agin the kitchen door, Jasie."

He looked at her, knew that she was lying, and when he turned to